Airline travel over the Fourth of July holiday weekend surged to new pandemic-era highs.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it screened more than 700,000 people on each of three days this weekend – the first time above 700,000 since mid-March.
The nearly 2.7 million people screened over the four-day period from Thursday through Sunday were about 28% of the 9.4 million people seen during the equivalent weekend last year.
The agency has also reported more than 960 cases of coronavirus among its workforce, including six deaths.
The weekend was the first since April when American Airlines began selling flights up to full capacity.
United Airlines has also been selling flights up to capacity. Both airlines say they are warning passengers that flights could be full and will allow passengers to re-book without a fee to a less-full flight.
American said Saturday its three busiest days since the pandemic hit were the first three days of July.
While airlines note travel volumes are still far below sustainable levels, they have been preparing for growth from the lows hit in mid-April.
Data from Airlines for America, representing major U.S. carriers, shows airlines have removed 800 planes put into storage during the pandemic as of Sunday. Thirty nine percent of the US fleet is grounded right now, according to the group.
US airlines are operating only 46% of their usual capacity, according to the group.